A Partner for Labor

For generations, organized labor has been the backbone of the American middle class and the muscle that drives industry forward. The BLS Union Members summary shows that full- time union members earned a median of $1,404 a week in 2025, while everyone else took home only $1,174. For Black men, union membership cuts the pay gap with white men by 33%. 

It goes deeper than base pay, though. The AFL-CIO found that “96% percent of union workers have employer-provided health insurance, but only 69% of nonunion workers do.” You can see the union difference in their chart below.

In the electric utility industry, this has been especially true. Simply put: there is no electric grid without the dedicated men and women of the Building and Trades, and your PSC Power Ticket has a plan to help more workers join the middle class through union membership. 

Our Labor Platform

Commissioner Hubbard believes that the Public Service Commission, and every statewide constitutional office, can do more to support the working men and women of the Georgia AFL-CIO. For the Public Service Commission, their plan includes:

1. Commit to Growing Union Jobs in the Electric Utility Sector

   Unions, and particularly the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, have a storied history in bringing electricity to the State of Georgia. The PSC Power Ticket wants to expand that legacy by incorporating labor-relevant statistics into standard reporting and analysis requirements at the Commission. We want to be able to compare apples to apples, so that decisions can be made that considers both the impact of a project on bill payers, and also Georgia’s workforce. Data centers and large developers should be required to invest in union labor - because that is the highest guarantee of quality available to Georgians. Put simply: we will measure our success by whether or not we increased union membership and job opportunities over the course of our tenure.

2. Create a Labor Advisory Body or Committee within the Public Service Commission

   The Public Service Commission has the authority to organize internally in ways that speed up communication, increase transparency, and ensure that everyone has a seat at the table. To that end,
   we will create an advisory body or committee within the Commission to ensure that decisions that will impact the industry and state’s critical workforces aren’t made without their input. We envision an advisory body with representatives from organized labor, and specifically Building and Trades, as well as independent contractors. Opinions of the committee would be recorded for posterity and entered into the public record - even when they diverge from the majority opinion.

3. Growing the Toolbox for Labor Organizing

   Democrats on the Public Service Commission, as well as candidates running for it with our party, are experienced community organizers and advocates; supported by a coalition of residents, allies, and activists who are eager to help working Georgians build power. With a Democratic majority on the Commission, Labor can expect to have public officials who have their back on fights like ending so-called “right to work,” but our support goes further. If you’re having trouble reaching out to communities and demographics in your region - we want to help connect you to values-aligned assistance. If your union has a long term strategy for organizing new membership, we want to be an ally in that fight. Our tools inside the Commission are limited to the law, but our community stands ready to lean in with you and get in good trouble.

4. Dedicated Annual Reports to Leadership and Townhalls with General Membership

   We will prepare an annual report for the Georgia AFL-CIO on labor issues connected to PSC proceedings, and we will make sure that your members receive the opportunity to join a dedicated town hall where their voices can be heard. Additionally, we’re committed to bridging the “Atlanta - Not Atlanta” divide by hosting official business of the Commission around the state, so that everyone doesn’t have to drive to Atlanta to raise concerns. Crucially, we’ll work with union leaders and our new Labor advisory body to highlight upcoming or anticipated proceedings which could be of interest to your members. With a Democratic majority on the PSC, we may not always see eye-to-eye, but you won’t get left in the dark anymore. 

5. Solidarity with TVA Workers

   Commissioner Peter Hubbard is opposed to the Trump Administration’s attempt to privatize and undermine the Tennessee Valley Authority. Privatizing the TVA would undoubtedly endanger union workers there, and we’re committed to standing in solidarity by opposing any efforts to do so. Workers rights are more than a local concern. They’re also a regional concern, and you can trust that we will bring that understanding to everything we do. 
   

Finally, let’s address the elephant in the room: data centers. Commissioner Hubbard supports Senator Raphael Warnock and Keisha Lance Bottom’s call for a statewide pause on data center approvals. These are high paying jobs, so we understand why members may feel concerned by that stance, but a statewide pause is not only good for unions - it’s actually necessary for your growth.

A statewide pause on new approvals won’t stop existing projects from moving forward, but it will give the state legislature time to complete the impact study which had bipartisan support but failed to pass due to special interest pressure. It will also force Big Tech to the negotiating table, and give us the greatest leverage possible to secure Labor a greater share of job growth from this sector. Click here for the impact study that the Virginia state legislature commissioned on data centers.

Communities should have the final say on whether or not a facility gets built by them, and Democrats on the Public Service Commission believe in honoring that principle. With the right negotiating power, greater reporting requirements, and solidarity between us and organized labor - a Democratic majority on the Public Service Commission can make sure that we all come out ahead - no matter how this issue develops. 

For more information, reach out to us using the form on our Contact page.